Cliff Buchan
News EditorAuthorities in Washington County said Tuesday they still donít know the reasons behind a stabbing attack of a 20-year-old woman in her Scandia home on Thursday, Aug. 12.
A 14-year-old male who lives a short distance from the victim was arrested shortly after the attack at 8:40 a.m., said Steve Pott, Washington County chief deputy.
While authorities continue to sort through the investigation, the matter of the juvenile has now been referred to the Washington County Attorneyís Office for consideration of charges.
Sue Harris, first assistant county attorney, said no additional information on the case would be released under state statute 260B.171 that relates to juvenile court proceedings for a subject under age 14.
Pott said the sheriffís office has also been instructed by the county attorneyís office to release no additional information regarding the juvenile suspect.
Jaclyn Larson, 20, a 2003 graduate of Forest Lake High School, was stabbed 20 times during the attack, according to the sheriffís office. She was asleep in her bedroom when she was attacked and stabbed.
Police reports said Larson was found in the front yard of the home after she made a 911 call for help. Calls for help also came from other neighbors. Police said Larson was able to identify her attacker.
Larson was taken to Regions Hospital. Pott said she is expected to recover but will need time to heal from her wounds. She was in stable condition and had undergone surgery, police reports said.
Pott said this week police still donít know why the young woman was attacked.
ìHe didnít offer any explanation,î Pott said of a police interview of the suspect who was arrested shortly after the incident on Aug. 12. ìItís pretty odd.î
The boy is a student at Century Junior High School in Forest Lake. Pott said he lives about one-third of a mile from the Larson home.
Pott said a straight blade knife six to eight inches long from handle to tip was used in the attack.
Friends have rallied to help Larson who was planning to return to St. Cloud State University this fall. To assist with Larsonís college expenses, a trust fund has been established for her at Security State Bank of Marine.
Friends said Larson has usually worked two and three jobs to help fund her education. Because of the injuries, she wonít be able to work for some time and will likely miss the fall term at St. Cloud State.
Donations can be sent to the Jaclyn Larson Trust Fund, Security State Bank of Marine, P.O. Box 34, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047.
Next steps?
What happens next in the case is a question.
Larson said Tuesday she could not comment on if or when the juvenile may be charged. Any process to certify the youth as an adult would be strictly confidential, she said.
ìThere is nothing I can share with you on the case,î she said.
More details would become public should the juvenile be certified to be tried as an adult, she said.
During a press conference last Thursday, Washington County Sheriff Jim Frank said the boy had confessed to the crime and could be tried as an adult.
More crime reports
In other crime reports, Forest Lake Police on Aug. 10 at 8:55 a.m. recovered a boat and trailer on Keystone Ave. south of 199th St. that had been reported stolen in Hugo. The boat was missing two outboard motors and fishing gear with total value of $4000 to $5000, Chief of Police Clark Quiring said.
The boat and trailer was reported to police by a city street maintenance crew.
On Monday at 4:29 p.m., the driver of a vehicle was stopped at gunpoint after Forest Lake police received a report that the driver had pointed a gun at another car in the parking lot at Wal-Mart, 200 SW 12th St.
The complainant told police the car, a black Mercury Sable, traveled north on I-35 after the incident. Forest Lake officers stopped the car at the Wyoming I-35 exit.
The driver explained the matter involved a driving dispute and he had pointed a cell phone at the complainant. No weapon was found and the driver of the Mercury was released without charges.
In other reports, police are:
ïInvestigating an office burglary at Suite 306 of Town Square, 20 N. Lake St. where forced-entry to the office was gained overnight on Aug. 15 but nothing appeared missing.
ïResponded to two complaints of motorized scooters operating on SW 2nd Avenue and on Lee Street. Warnings were issued and any second calls could result in tickets, the chief said.
ïPolice were also called to a pair of ATV-complaints on Jewel Avenue N. on Aug. 12 and Aug. 13.
ïInvestigating the theft of a 1996 green and silver Ford F150 pickup overnight on Aug. 12 from 861 SW 11th Ave.
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